TOKYO, Japan -- Former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova has her eyes set on finishing 2017 on a high note, beginning at the Toray Pan Pacfic Open in Tokyo this week -- but will do so without a coach by her side.
Early last week, Czech media reported that Pliskova split with David Kotyza, her coach of 10 months with whom she won three WTA titles this season and reached the World No.1 spot, after the two failed to agree on a strategy for the future.
In January, Kotyza sat down with WTA Insider to talk about his return to the WTA by Pliskova's side, after a lengthy collaboration with Petra Kvitova and a brief spell with Caroline Wozniacki.
"I think she's very educated in the game so we can speak very often about the tactics, about technique, how to improve her game," Kotyza said.
"For me, she's an interesting person and I feel she can really be a champion."
Read more: Kotyza calls Pliskova a champ in the making
Following news of the split, Pliskova met the media in Tokyo for the first time since a quarterfinal defeat to CoCo Vandeweghe at the US Open to talk about her goals for the rest of the season, which include reaching the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
“Obviously I need a coach, but it’s not the main thing in my team. I can play good even without a coach,” Pliskova was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency, reported by Reuters.
“For now, my main goal is to get to Singapore. Anything can happen. I think it’s about few points so every tournament it can change. I just want to play well and if I play well, I have a chance to get to World No.1 again.”
The Czech, now ranked World No.4 and seeded No.2 in Tokyo, will face Poland's Magda Linette in Wednesday's second round in Tokyo.